Fluid random number generator

There's no such thing as “optimum” without a defined optimisation function. If you can't get a measure, you can't reach an optimum. (Also, monotonic functions don't have optima; gotta have that derivative become zero, guys!)

Captain

@dkf said in Fluid random number generator:

(Also, monotonic functions don't have optima; gotta have that derivative become zero, guys!)

Nope, that's a freshman mistake. Minima can occur on boundaries. ;-)

fbmac

@dkf said in Fluid random number generator:

There's no such thing as “optimum” without a defined optimisation function.

dkf

@Captain Oh, you're using a bounded function? “That's Different.™”

Captain

@dkf e.g. f(x) = x on [0, 100) is bounded below and the infimum is attained on the boundary.

PleegWat

@Captain said in Fluid random number generator:

@dkf e.g. f(x) = x on [0, 100) is bounded below and the infimum is attained on the boundary.

It's bounded above as well. That is,

Captain

@PleegWat Yeah, but we're talking about optimization. The function doesn't attain a maximum on [0,100). In this case, the minimum is the infimum, but the maximum is undefined (and not equal to the supremum).

anotherusername

@dkf said in Fluid random number generator:

Also, monotonic functions don't have optima; gotta have that derivative become zero, guys!

"monotonic" != "derivative is always nonzero"

Monotonic functions can have plateaus -- regions where the derivative is zero -- and a plateau can be an optimum if it's infinitely long in one direction.

E.g.

f(𝓍) = ⌊ e^𝓍⌋

That function is monotonic, and has a minimum at 0. For all x < 0, f(x) = 0.

error

@PleegWat said in Fluid random number generator:

Now I know how my manager feels when I spout tech jargon at him.

Filed under: I see the problem: that E is backwards, and the A is upside-down.

Onyx

@error said in Fluid random number generator:

I see the problem: that E is backwards, and the A is upside-down.

I don't know, I like those elements, it makes it more dynamic, though I still think it should pop more.

PleegWat

@error said in Fluid random number generator:

@PleegWat said in Fluid random number generator:

Now I know how my manager feels when I spout tech jargon at him.

Filed under: I see the problem: that E is backwards, and the A is upside-down.

I like spouting some math jargon every once in a while.

fbmac

People that want go get stuff done just use the normal rand function

Sumireko

Find a thermal noise generator, hook it up to a ADC (after an amp), run it through something to provide USB input, and you have a much easier, less complicated setup.

dkf

@anotherusername said in Fluid random number generator:

E.g.

f(x) = ⌊ e^𝓍⌋

That function is monotonic, and has a minimum at 0. For all x < 0, f(x) = 0.

I'm not sure what the ⌊ …⌋ symbols mean there, so I can't decide whether to argue with you. Also, is there a relationship between x and 𝓍? (That's but it matters in formulæ…)

AyGeePlus

@dkf said in Fluid random number generator:

⌊ …⌋ symbols mean there, so I can't decide whether to argue with you.

Floor.

@dkf said in Fluid random number generator:

Also, is there a relationship between x and 𝓍?

The identity relationship.

anotherusername

@dkf said in Fluid random number generator:

Also, is there a relationship between x and 𝓍? (That's but it matters in formulæ…)

Yeah okay. Fixed.